(Orig) BLAH - Chapter 2
Title: BLAH
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Warnings: None Applicable to Chapter 1
Summary: At the end of the beginning of the new world, Dawn learns his place and must decide how duty-bound is he to his self or his oath.
A/N:
"You have been invited to join NUMBER. I do not condone it, yet it is from my superior. Be proud, even if I am not."
Dawn immediately tensed. "What?" he said, eyes wide. "You have to be joking. I'm still not old enough, and won't be for another 10 months and 9 R years. Don't tell me that NUMBER's age restrictions are falling. The reports given to the President--"
"Enough!" Vorwigger cut in. "What the President gets is what Yardh wants him to believe, and tell the populace. It is not the truth." His eyes narrowed at Dawn, scrutinizing him.
"What do you know of the operations a year ago?"
Dawn tried to suppress his stiffening stance, but Vorwigger wasn't his rank for naught.
"Ho, so you do know. That will make things easier. But to sum it up, NUMBER does not have enough forces anymore, and is recruiting heavily. I am sure you have noticed the shrinking departments." Dawn had; it was affecting the Builder Guard significantly. "It is unfortunate, however, that I will be losing you and your level head," Vorwigger groused. "Still, orders are orders. Prepare in three days all your belongings. The Blackfeet will give you your message in no more than three days' time."
"May I be dismissed, sir?"
"Dismissed," Vorwigger responded curtly, and marched out first. Dawn followed after a brief spout of reluctance.
When he was in the hallway, Vorwigger's voice floated towards him from a few feet ahead. "I'm curious as to how you knew about the President's reports."
Dawn clenched his hands into fists, but he could do nothing to his superior.
-
NUMBER wasn't so much a secret organization as much as its reports were secret. It was the glorified leaders of SIN-V's military, the elite of the elite. The regular army suffered ignominy under NUMBER's shadow, which was large indeed, looming over the entire continent of Heiya and creeping into the only other neighboring continent, Zhanshu. NUMBER was also the only reason that SIN-V was in power at all.
Such glory came adoration, and all Heiyans, young or old, male or female, wished to be part of it. Few of them ever reached the pinnacle, shipped off to other departments along the way. Dawn was one of them, even if it was only because he failed the age requirement. He felt sorry for the women who didn't make it, because none of them did no matter how much of their aspirations or talent. NUMBER was male-dominated, and no woman, no matter how hard she tries, can break the barrier separating man and woman to enter NUMBER. These women, however, undoubtedly suffered a fate he considered cruel. And degrading.
"Yo!"
Dawn turned his head. It was a Blackfeet. "Hey yourself," he said. "Your name?"
"Codex. Pleased ta meet ya."
"Pleasure is mine," Dawn responded. "Not."
"Hey!" Codex shouted indignantly. "What happened to 'Mr. Nice Guy' Ah kept hearing about?"
"A temporary delusion. Your report?"
Codex grumbled. "Yeesh. Here; it's in paper format, 'cause the big guy said it was too important for me to hear." His mouth formed a pout.
Dawn rolled his eyes. Considering what he could understand, he believed Lepard's concern was justified.
"How old are you?" he asked as his eyes scanned the document before thoroughly reading.
"Eh, Ah guess Ah'm gonna be fifteen soon once the new moon shows up."
"Years, then. Hm, young, aren't you? Guess you have to be really good to get picked up by Blackfeet even with your age."
"Ah'm aiming towards NUMBER, but Black Guard sounds good."
"Oh? You know Cong?"
Dawn tossed the portfolio on top of his coffee table. It didn't sound good. He was working under the NUMBER's own elite. He comforted himself it, at least, wasn't the General himself.
"Yup. Lookin' real forward to mah eventual rank rise. Whadda 'bout you? Boss doesn't send those letters out for nut'."
He looked at Codex, then examined him. He was smart to pick up Lepard's habit. The boy was right. Lepard hardly ever used such a paper unless the matter was urgent or formal. But the fact that the boy realized the different type of paper was the crux of the matter. The envelope and the letterhead was made out of a special paper from the Euta tea leaves combined with Napa magic. The product was a nearly indestructible paper that responded to secret codes, and supposedly looked like any other paper.
Dawn broke out into an appreciatory smile. "Yeah, I think you'll make it. Just remember that the age limit is fifteen R years. You still got ten more Reputation Exams to go before you can get cocky under Lepard's service. Do you understand, Codex?"
Codex grinned. "So this is the 'Mr. Nice Guy' Ah keep hearing about! Yezir! Ah 'ear ya." He saluted smartly and left at Dawn's nonverbal dismissal, cheerful.
---
He waded through the rubble oozing under the intensity of the sun. The city's metal absorbed the sun's rays and reflected its intensity as it melted. Dawn was always annoyed at this part of the job because he would always have to order another pair of boots from the quartermaster, who definitely hated his department because of all the new supply requests coming from them. A look was enough, but an earful was unappetizing.
"Yo, Dawn, buddy! I got sent here to play secretary as you survey. Vorwigger's underling complained that there were too many reconnoiters but not enough aides."
Dawn tried not to groan. Look on the bright side, he told himself. He had a canary.
"Ready to play, James?" he asked with black humor.
James cocked his head to the side, contemplative, but soon eager nodded.
"Sometimes I wonder if you grew up," Dawn sighed. James opened his mouth to counter, but Dawn held up a hand. "I really don't want to know. Let's get this job over with. I want to have some time to rest after getting my eardrums blown by the sutler. Again."
He ignored Agent Sparrow's wide grin.
The Building Guard was often the but of many jokes. Because of the nature the Building Guard's work, the head would often send for resupplies from the quartermaster. Being the head meant undergoing the supplier's ire. And was it god-awfully LOUD. Dawn Cloud was more famous in SIN-V not for his military prowess, but for his resilience against the head commissariat. He had not been sure whether he should have laughed or cried upon hearing that.
Dawn had to thank his abilities bred in his race and genetic make-up for it, though. He was above Heiyans and Zhanshunese. He was better than them in all respects, and always will be.
However, he tried to avoid thinking so. It would cause his mind to stray and tread dangerous territory. After all, if he was so much better than the whole population combined, why was he subjecting himself to them? Why won't he save his distant brethren, join them in their struggle and revolt?
"Dawn?"
He jerked back. "Yeah?"
"You stopped talking," James pointed out. "Are there more problems?"
"James, there are always more problems. Why should one receive special consideration?" Dawn responded after suppressing a snort. He quickly organized his mind to focus on the task before him, giving himself a sound mental warning.
James looked unsure at his remark, but blessedly kept his mouth shut and continued to dictate.
---
Prev | Next
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Warnings: None Applicable to Chapter 1
Summary: At the end of the beginning of the new world, Dawn learns his place and must decide how duty-bound is he to his self or his oath.
A/N:
"You have been invited to join NUMBER. I do not condone it, yet it is from my superior. Be proud, even if I am not."
Dawn immediately tensed. "What?" he said, eyes wide. "You have to be joking. I'm still not old enough, and won't be for another 10 months and 9 R years. Don't tell me that NUMBER's age restrictions are falling. The reports given to the President--"
"Enough!" Vorwigger cut in. "What the President gets is what Yardh wants him to believe, and tell the populace. It is not the truth." His eyes narrowed at Dawn, scrutinizing him.
"What do you know of the operations a year ago?"
Dawn tried to suppress his stiffening stance, but Vorwigger wasn't his rank for naught.
"Ho, so you do know. That will make things easier. But to sum it up, NUMBER does not have enough forces anymore, and is recruiting heavily. I am sure you have noticed the shrinking departments." Dawn had; it was affecting the Builder Guard significantly. "It is unfortunate, however, that I will be losing you and your level head," Vorwigger groused. "Still, orders are orders. Prepare in three days all your belongings. The Blackfeet will give you your message in no more than three days' time."
"May I be dismissed, sir?"
"Dismissed," Vorwigger responded curtly, and marched out first. Dawn followed after a brief spout of reluctance.
When he was in the hallway, Vorwigger's voice floated towards him from a few feet ahead. "I'm curious as to how you knew about the President's reports."
Dawn clenched his hands into fists, but he could do nothing to his superior.
-
NUMBER wasn't so much a secret organization as much as its reports were secret. It was the glorified leaders of SIN-V's military, the elite of the elite. The regular army suffered ignominy under NUMBER's shadow, which was large indeed, looming over the entire continent of Heiya and creeping into the only other neighboring continent, Zhanshu. NUMBER was also the only reason that SIN-V was in power at all.
Such glory came adoration, and all Heiyans, young or old, male or female, wished to be part of it. Few of them ever reached the pinnacle, shipped off to other departments along the way. Dawn was one of them, even if it was only because he failed the age requirement. He felt sorry for the women who didn't make it, because none of them did no matter how much of their aspirations or talent. NUMBER was male-dominated, and no woman, no matter how hard she tries, can break the barrier separating man and woman to enter NUMBER. These women, however, undoubtedly suffered a fate he considered cruel. And degrading.
"Yo!"
Dawn turned his head. It was a Blackfeet. "Hey yourself," he said. "Your name?"
"Codex. Pleased ta meet ya."
"Pleasure is mine," Dawn responded. "Not."
"Hey!" Codex shouted indignantly. "What happened to 'Mr. Nice Guy' Ah kept hearing about?"
"A temporary delusion. Your report?"
Codex grumbled. "Yeesh. Here; it's in paper format, 'cause the big guy said it was too important for me to hear." His mouth formed a pout.
Dawn rolled his eyes. Considering what he could understand, he believed Lepard's concern was justified.
"How old are you?" he asked as his eyes scanned the document before thoroughly reading.
"Eh, Ah guess Ah'm gonna be fifteen soon once the new moon shows up."
"Years, then. Hm, young, aren't you? Guess you have to be really good to get picked up by Blackfeet even with your age."
"Ah'm aiming towards NUMBER, but Black Guard sounds good."
"Oh? You know Cong?"
Dawn tossed the portfolio on top of his coffee table. It didn't sound good. He was working under the NUMBER's own elite. He comforted himself it, at least, wasn't the General himself.
"Yup. Lookin' real forward to mah eventual rank rise. Whadda 'bout you? Boss doesn't send those letters out for nut'."
He looked at Codex, then examined him. He was smart to pick up Lepard's habit. The boy was right. Lepard hardly ever used such a paper unless the matter was urgent or formal. But the fact that the boy realized the different type of paper was the crux of the matter. The envelope and the letterhead was made out of a special paper from the Euta tea leaves combined with Napa magic. The product was a nearly indestructible paper that responded to secret codes, and supposedly looked like any other paper.
Dawn broke out into an appreciatory smile. "Yeah, I think you'll make it. Just remember that the age limit is fifteen R years. You still got ten more Reputation Exams to go before you can get cocky under Lepard's service. Do you understand, Codex?"
Codex grinned. "So this is the 'Mr. Nice Guy' Ah keep hearing about! Yezir! Ah 'ear ya." He saluted smartly and left at Dawn's nonverbal dismissal, cheerful.
---
He waded through the rubble oozing under the intensity of the sun. The city's metal absorbed the sun's rays and reflected its intensity as it melted. Dawn was always annoyed at this part of the job because he would always have to order another pair of boots from the quartermaster, who definitely hated his department because of all the new supply requests coming from them. A look was enough, but an earful was unappetizing.
"Yo, Dawn, buddy! I got sent here to play secretary as you survey. Vorwigger's underling complained that there were too many reconnoiters but not enough aides."
Dawn tried not to groan. Look on the bright side, he told himself. He had a canary.
"Ready to play, James?" he asked with black humor.
James cocked his head to the side, contemplative, but soon eager nodded.
"Sometimes I wonder if you grew up," Dawn sighed. James opened his mouth to counter, but Dawn held up a hand. "I really don't want to know. Let's get this job over with. I want to have some time to rest after getting my eardrums blown by the sutler. Again."
He ignored Agent Sparrow's wide grin.
The Building Guard was often the but of many jokes. Because of the nature the Building Guard's work, the head would often send for resupplies from the quartermaster. Being the head meant undergoing the supplier's ire. And was it god-awfully LOUD. Dawn Cloud was more famous in SIN-V not for his military prowess, but for his resilience against the head commissariat. He had not been sure whether he should have laughed or cried upon hearing that.
Dawn had to thank his abilities bred in his race and genetic make-up for it, though. He was above Heiyans and Zhanshunese. He was better than them in all respects, and always will be.
However, he tried to avoid thinking so. It would cause his mind to stray and tread dangerous territory. After all, if he was so much better than the whole population combined, why was he subjecting himself to them? Why won't he save his distant brethren, join them in their struggle and revolt?
"Dawn?"
He jerked back. "Yeah?"
"You stopped talking," James pointed out. "Are there more problems?"
"James, there are always more problems. Why should one receive special consideration?" Dawn responded after suppressing a snort. He quickly organized his mind to focus on the task before him, giving himself a sound mental warning.
James looked unsure at his remark, but blessedly kept his mouth shut and continued to dictate.
---
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